Episode 2 of "Family Matters" kicks off with a nostalgic flashback, depicting a youthful Young-soo attempting a daring escape. Her efforts abruptly terminate as she is apprehended, revealing the harrowing truth: her so-called escape was merely an escape drill. The intrigue deepens as we ponder the reasons behind her apparent desire to flee and the enigmatic woman who orchestrated these drills for the children.
In the present, Young-soo's surgical precision as she slices into Kyu-tae's thigh paints a grim picture of justice meted out by her own hands. A fellow captive, confined within his cage, attempts to document the harrowing scene with his smartwatch, capturing Kyu-tae's agony as he confesses his loyalty to Jae-gon, the class president. The narrative shifts to Jae-gon, gleefully compiling videos in his room, consumed by a perverted sense of pride.
Young-soo's sardonic laughter echoes through the room as she notes the arduous task of stitching Kyu-tae back together, leading the lad to collapse from the intensity of his pain. Upon regaining consciousness, Kyu-tae's fateful stitches greet him once more, causing him to faint anew. Ji-woo dashes out in disgust, while Ji-hoon merely beams, savoring the macabre spectacle. Gang-sung trails after Ji-woo, reassuring her to not let the grim sights disturb her too deeply.
Later, Young-soo confides in Cheol-hee about her worries concerning Ji-hoon's chilling demeanor. Elsewhere, Ji-hoon visits the other hostage, his actions hinting at a deeper, unseen agenda. Meanwhile, one of the bullies seeks out Kyu-tae's father, the church deacon, recounting how he was defeated by a girl—a stunning revelation.
Elsewhere, the police investigation into Yu-jin's case intensifies. They scrutinize CCTV footage from roads surrounding the Kumsu-ro trail, eventually spotting the family's van and a trailing car. Only one detective, however, finds this coincidence suspicious.
The following dawn, Kyu-tae's father embarks on a desperate search for his son. Young-soo brings Kyu-tae home in a wheelchair, fabricating a tale about a sleepover and using the opportunity to counsel Kyu-tae against bullying and foster reconciliation among the children.
This episode weaves a tale of intrigue, violence, and subtle deceit, painting a vivid canvas of a world where nothing is as it seems.
Kyu-tae wails in agony, clutching his side and claiming he's been injured, but his father's thorough inspection reveals no trace of harm. The truth unfurls: Young-soo possesses extraordinary hypnotic abilities. Mocking Kyu-tae's apparent frailty, Young-soo irritates their father, who takes pride in his son's bullying demeanor.
At home, Cheol-hee gathers the children around the screen, displaying footage from the Kyu-tae ordeal and elucidating that it was all a mirage. Ji-woo feels a glimmer of relief, whereas Ji-hoon experiences a hint of disappointment. Gang-sung, intrigued, labels the technique as brain-hacking and elucidates its mechanics, mentioning that Young-soo possesses the capacity to erase memories, among myriad other talents.
The children's curiosity is boundless, yet time escapes them, and they find themselves tardy for school. On their journey, Ji-hoon urges Ji-woo to reconsider giving their mother a fair chance. Ji-woo remains steadfast in his belief that their banishment from social media and mobile phones is unjust. Ji-hoon confesses witnessing his mother wield her powers, recalling vividly how Young-soo once intervened with their former neighbor's abusive spouse. They encounter Jae-gon and, with a newfound resolve, decide to tackle their troubles solo.
Gang-sung keeps a vigilant eye on the CCTV surveillance scattered throughout the neighborhood, while Pastor Yoon endeavors to uphold communal harmony. He confronts Deacon Joe for his tardiness, to which Joe responds with tales of his son's sudden illness. Sister Oh voices her solicitude for Kyu-tae, prompting Deacon Joe to caution her discreetly about Young-soo. He recounts Kyu-tae's overnight stay at Young-soo's, emerging as a hollow shell of his former self. Agreeing to accompany Pastor Yoon to retrieve his dog from the veterinarian, Sister Oh attempts to pry into matters not meant for her eyes. When she lifts the lid of the cage, a collective gasp ripples through the air as they discover it eerily empty.
Cheol-hee earnestly implores Pastor Yoon to grant his injured dog some additional time to recuperate, suggesting they revisit the matter later. Pastor Yoon appears taken aback to discover that the canine's plight stems from injury rather than illness. Sister O, sensing an opportunity, volunteers to share some parenting wisdom with Young-soo, who politely declines, much to her chagrin.
Once the visitors have departed, Cheol-hee and Young-soo find themselves pondering the mysterious disappearance of their captive. It seems someone has liberated him, leaving them to suspect the involvement of the children, who remain innocuously at school.
At the school, Ji-hoon engages in playful flirtation with Mi-jung, while Ji-woo teases him mercilessly. Jae-gon beckons Ji-woo, expressing gratitude for her guardianship over Kyu-tae. He steadfastly refuses to acknowledge his role as the mastermind behind the bullying ring, instead positioning himself merely as a manager and offering to compensate Ji-woo in cryptocurrency. Ji-woo is astonishment at his gall, yet Ji-hoon persuades her to remain composed and accept the payment. Meanwhile, Ji-hoon surreptitiously implants a malicious virus into Mi-jung's photos.
As for the law enforcement authorities, they apprehend the individual caught on camera tailing Yu-jin. However, they swiftly ascertain that he is not the murderer they seek. Nonetheless, he offers a glimpse into Yu-jin's fate, revealing that he followed her until she spotted a man pretending to be her lover and left with him.
The scene cuts to the man who took Yu-jin. It turns out to be the same man that Young-soo’s family had abducted. He is currently in his house and never called the police to report what happened to him. Through a flashback, we learn that he was the one who killed Yu-jin and left her in his car. The car is currently at Young-soo’s place.
Speaking of Young-soo, the family calls for a meeting, and Gang-sung agrees to give each one a chance to ask one question. The kids deny setting the hostage free. Ji-hoon asks if he can learn Young-soo’s hypnotising skill, but Cheol-hee says it is not something one can learn.
Ji-woo demands to know about Young-soo’s origin. We then learn that Young-soo was abandoned at an early age, and she found herself at the Special Training Battalion. There she met Gang-sung and Cheol-hee. They were all trainees at the centre.
However, they agree to escape and save Ji-woo and Ji-hoon, who were brought in as infants. Young-soo was determined to give the children a better future and protect them. The kids realise they are on the run, and that is why they can’t use social media.
It appears as though the adults are still withholding further secrets. Amidst their conversation, the ex-hostage rings and instructs them to inspect the present nestled within his vehicle, promising to await their callback. When Young-soo and Cheol-hee lift the trunk lid, they are confronted with the chilling sight of Yu-jin's lifeless body. Swiftly, they relay the discovery back to the ex-hostage, who retaliates with a menacing threat to unveil their involvement. Yet, upon reviewing his surveillance footage, he finds no incriminating evidence to report. He then takes a startling turn, claiming to be the elusive serial killer sought by the authorities, but Young-soo and Cheol-hee remain unconvinced, believing he doesn't fit the bill.
The family unit converges, decided to sanitize the vehicle and surrender it to the precinct. Gang-sung provides them with disguises to obscure their identities as they wheel the car to the outskirts of the police station. Prior to this, they offer a solemn prayer in Yu-jin's memory. The subsequent morning, the media frantically covers the discovery of Yu-jin's body and the daring manner in which the killers deposited it at the police doorstep, interpreting it as a brazen taunt towards law enforcement. However, such was never the family's intention. This harrowing ordeal bonds the family closer together. Young-soo takes delight in witnessing Ji-woo gradually thaw towards her, prompting her to confess her awareness of Gang- sung's role in liberating the hostage and inquiring about his motivations behind such an act.
